2 persons questioned in deadly Philly carjack crash

Jul. 27, 2014
|

An investigator examines a heavily damaged SUV before it is towed from the scene of a fatal accident in North Philadelphia, Friday July 25, 2014. Two children were killed and three people critically injured when a hijacked car lost control and hit a group of people near a fruit stand, according to police. / Joseph Kaczmarek AP

by John Bacon, USA TODAY

by John Bacon, USA TODAY

Philadelphia police were questioning two "persons of interest" in a carjacking that killed three children and critically injured their mother, local media reported.

Charges have not yet been filed, and police have not yet released the identities of either person, The Philadelphia Inquirer and WPVI-TV reported.

The news came as police continued to scour the region for two men who rammed a stolen SUV into a church fruit sale Friday, killing the three children.

Homicide Capt. James Clark said the men carjacked a Toyota SUV, roared through a North Philadelphia neighborhood and crashed into a family selling fruit to benefit their church. The men fled on foot.

Keiearra Williams, 15; Thomas Reed, 10; and Terrence Moore, 7, were killed in the crash. Their mother, Keisha Williams, 34, was critically injured. A woman helping with the fruit stand and the carjack victim also were injured.

"Three innocent children had their lives taken," Clark said.

The city has offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the men's arrest. The Fraternal Order of Police offered another $10,000 if the men are arrested by noon Monday.

"There are no words to describe how I feel right now," said police Commissioner Charles Ramsey. "But we do need to find these two guys."

Police told philly.com they had a number of good tips but no concrete leads. Deputy Mayor Everett Gillison said Mayor Michael Nutter was heartbroken.

"The prayers of the city go out to this family," Gillison said.

The family took an active role in a community garden run by Mount Zion Church, philly.com reports.

"They took pride in their garden," neighbor Joyce Fisher told the website. The first tomato of the season, she said warmly, was a major event. Fisher said the church had hoped to raise money to build a playground.

"To see the garden there, and the gate not open - not to see them there - it's hard," Fisher said.

Neighbor Jacquita Kelsey said the family had lived there for about three years.

"I can see (Keisha) on the steps of her house, and Terrence in the doorway, saying 'Hi, Miss Jackie,' " Kelsey said. "I'd say, 'Look at her and her little ducklings.' She was always with the kids."